Mahfud Receives ASEAN Trade Union Representative Input For Labor Protection

Coordinating Minister For Political, Legal And Security Affairs Mahfud MD received input from labor representatives from the ASEAN Trade Union Council (ATUC)/DOK Instagram @mohmahfudmd

JAKARTA - Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Mahfud MD received input from labor representatives from the ASEAN Trade Union Council (ATUC) and several other countries regarding the protection of workers' rights and the safety of workers.

"Reflecting on Indonesia's experience, the Indonesian government has always involved labor groups in discussing protection and improving welfare," said Mahfud MD, who is also the chairman of the ASEAN Political and Security Council this year, as reported by ANTARA, Thursday, July 20.

In a meeting with the labor delegation, the government emphasized that so far it has not left the workers and will always have a dialogue with the workers when facing social problems related to labor.

The ASEAN Trade Union Council hopes that Indonesia, which serves as Chair of ASEAN 2023, can encourage member countries to strengthen the protection of workers in the region.

Mahfud said member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) during the Summit in Labuan Bajo, East Nusa Tenggara, in May 2023, also agreed to work together to protect groups of workers, especially those who are vulnerable to being victims of criminal acts of trafficking in persons (TPPO).

ASEAN Trade Union Council President Andi Gani Nena Wea, who represented the labor delegation at the meeting with representatives of labor groups from Belgium, Malaysia and Japan, also expressed concern about the pressure experienced by labor unions in Myanmar.

The delegation consisted of representatives of the Belgian Confederation of International Trade Unions (ITUC) Monina Wong, representatives of the Japan Trade Union Council (JTUC) Yoshiko Norimatsu, representatives of ITUC Asia Pacific Patuan Patuan Samosir, Apolinar Tolentino from BWI Internasional Malaysia, and Khaing Zar Aung from CTUM Myanmar.

In this regard, Mahfud said that tensions in Myanmar also made it difficult for many parties, including the Indonesian government, to protect their workers in the country, especially those who were victims of TIP.

However, Mahfud assessed that the workers must strengthen their cooperation and alliance so that it is not easily suppressed by other parties.

"The role of workers in supporting the life of democracy, including in Indonesia. Workers everywhere need to cooperate with various parties, and they can no longer be pressured, including in Myanmar," said Mahfud MD.